Police: Man Imprisoned Woman

EAST HARTFORD — A 37-year-old Hartford man was arrested Tuesday after a police chase and charged with holding his girlfriend against her will and numerous other counts.

The woman told police that her boyfriend had kept her prisoner in their Hartford apartment for days, had stabbed her in the face and had forced her to ingest toxic substances, allegations that are being investigated by Hartford police.

Michael Wheelock, 37, of 386 Sigourney St., was held on charges of first-degree unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, assault on a police officer, third-degree assault, attempt to commit second-degree assault, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and avoiding responsibility for injury or property damage, police said. Bail was set at $100,000.

Police said they received a 911 call at about 6:30 a.m. reporting that a woman who had stab wounds and was covered in blood was inside a white van at 16 Smith Drive in East Hartford.

When Officer Jeffrey Cutler arrived, he saw a van speed out of the rear parking lot and drive along the sidewalk, police said. The van struck the bumper of Lt. Gary Cooper's cruiser while going around it. The van then sped onto Lawrence Street to Whiting Road, Brown Street and then north on Main Street, police said. The chase ended at the intersection with Silver Lane, where police cars boxed in the van.

A woman in the van's passenger seat had wounds on her face, head, arms and hands, police said. She told police that Wheelock, whom she described as her boyfriend, had held her captive for two or more days in their Hartford apartment.

She told police she was forced to drink gasoline, bleach and Pine-Sol cleaning fluid. She also told police that Wheelock forced heroin down her throat and that she was sexually assaulted.

She said Wheelock forced her into the van Tuesday morning, holding a screwdriver to her chest. He kept her on the floor of the van while driving into East Hartford, then ordered her out at 16 Smith Drive, where he gave his ex-girlfriend child support payments, she told police.

He then ordered her back into the van, police said. The woman said she didn't run away because she had no shoes and knew she couldn't escape without being hurt further. The van had no door handles inside, she said.

The woman was taken to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. Hospital officials said they could not release any information about her injuries or condition.